What are the symptoms of bile duct cancer patients before death

Cholangiocarcinoma often has no obvious symptoms in the early stages. After the onset of the disease, especially in the late stages, the symptoms become more obvious. Many patients experience severe loss of appetite, weight loss, persistent high fever, and can no longer lead a normal life. Their bodies suffer from pain. So, what are the symptoms of cholangiocarcinoma patients before they die? Let's take a look.

Jaundice: Patients with bile duct cancer lack typical symptoms in the early stage. Most patients seek medical treatment due to jaundice. Jaundice is the earliest and most important symptom of bile duct cancer. About 90%-98% of bile duct cancer patients have varying degrees of skin and sclera yellowing. The characteristic of jaundice is that it is progressive and deepens, and is mostly painless. In a few patients, jaundice fluctuates. Jaundice appears earlier in upper bile duct cancer, while jaundice in middle and lower bile duct cancer may appear later due to the buffering of the gallbladder.

Skin itching: It may occur before or after the onset of jaundice, and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as tachycardia, bleeding tendency, mental depression, fatigue, steatorrhea, abdominal distension, etc. Skin itching is caused by increased bilirubin content in the blood, which stimulates the peripheral nerves of the skin.

Abdominal pain: About half of the patients have symptoms such as right upper abdominal pain, distension or discomfort, weight loss, loss of appetite, etc. These symptoms are often regarded as early warning symptoms of bile duct cancer. At the beginning of abdominal pain, it is similar to cholelithiasis and cholecystitis. According to clinical observation, abdominal pain and jaundice can occur only 3 months after the onset of bile duct cancer.

Others: Along with jaundice, abdominal pain and other symptoms, there may also be nausea, vomiting, weight loss, dark yellow urine, like soy sauce or strong tea, light yellow or even clay-colored stools, etc. When the tumor ruptures in the late stage, bile duct bleeding may occur, with black stools and positive fecal occult blood tests, and even anemia may occur; when there is liver metastasis, symptoms such as liver enlargement and cirrhosis may occur.

The above is an introduction to the symptoms of bile duct cancer patients before death. I hope it will be helpful to you.